Railway signaling



L, v. LEWIS 1,

RAILWAY SIGNALING Sept. 1 1, 1934.

FiledF b. 19, 1951 INVENTOR. A,- 1/. Law: s,

I ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES RAILWAY SIGNALING Lloyd V. Lewis,Edge'wood, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company,Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 19,1931, Serial No. 516,950

' 52 Claims. (or. 177-353) My invention relates to railway signaling,and particularly to signaling for railroad yards such as classificationyards and distribution yards.

More particularly, my invention relates to apparatus for controllingyard track indicators for informing trainmen on which of a plurality ofyard tracks to place their train. 1

I will describe one form of signaling embodying my invention, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing aportion of a railroad yard provided with an indicator embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatusfor controlling the indicator of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a detail view showingone form of dial switch for operating wheel a of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar Referring first to Fig. 1of the drawing, the reference character W designates a main yard track,and the reference character Z with distinguishing exponents designatesauxiliary yard tracks which are connected with main track W by switchesdesignated by the reference character F with correspondingexponents.

A yard signal, known also as a yard track indicator, designated by thereference character S, comprises a plurality of indicators one for eachauxiliary yard track 2.. Each of these indicators, as here shown,comprises an electric lamp designated by the reference character c withan exponeirt corresponding to that for the auxiliary yard track withwhich it is associated. Signal S, as here shown, comprises twentyindicators for twenty tracks. For the sake of simplicity, I have shownin Fig. 1 only auxiliarytracks Z Z and Z to Z", inclusive, and haveomitted tracks Z to Z inclusive.

When a train is to be put onto a given auxiliary track, for example,track Z the operator will cause lamp 2 for that track to be lighted,thus instructing the trainmen to place their train on track Z Theindicators e are controlled from a yard office or an interlocking towerby. means of a dial switch L, shown in Fig. 2 and by a separate contactG shown in Fig. 2.

5 by me to replace the 0 that ordinarily appears parts in each of thethree views.

Dial switch L is of the well known type used in the last position of thedial as constructed for use in dialing the digits of a number. In orderto actuate switch L, the operator places a finger in one of the openings12, and rotates disc 11in a clockwise direction until his finger engagesa stop 13. He then withdraws his finger from the opening in disc 11,whereupon, switch L rotates a notched wheel a, shown in Fig. 2, adistance corresponding to the opening 12 in which the operator placedhis finger. The notches 14 of wheel a cause a movable contact member 15to repeatedly move away from a fixed contact member 15 thus repeatedlyopening contact 15-15 whereas, teeth 14 of wheel a cause contact 1515 torepeatedly close. When switch L is in its normal condition, wheel a isat rest in a'position to cause contact 15-15 to be closed.

Contacts G and 15--l5 control a main relay R which, through the frontpoint of its contact 16, controls a second relay J which is slow-releas-5 ing. Contact G is normally open, and hence relay R is normallydeenergized. A third relay K, also slow-releasing, is controlled by afront contact of relay-J and by the back point of contact 16 of relay R.The two terminals of each of the 0 relays J and K are connected togetherthrough an asymmetric unit 11. By this means, each of these relays J andK is made slower releasing.

Relays R and J together control a chain of counting relays D andtransfer relays N. The rightv-hand terminal of each transfer relay N isconnected to terminal C through an asymmetric unit y the purpose ofwhich is to serve as a spark arrester when a circuit through a relay Nin series with a relay D becomes opened as will be hereinafterdescribed. Relay K, transfer relay N11b, and counting relays D controlindicator lamps e.

As here shown, lamps e are energized by alternating current, whereas,the relays are energized by direct current. Both forms of current aresupplied by a transformer T having a primary winding 29 and twosecondary windings 30 and 31. Primary winding 29 is constantly suppliedwith alternating current from terminals :1: and u of a source not shownin the drawing. Alternating current for Iamps e is supplied by secondarywinding 30 of transformer '1. Direct current for the relays is providedby a rectifier M which, as here shown, is of the type comprising fourasyimnetric units 11, and which is interposedbetween secondary winding31 of transformer T and the various relays. In'the drawing, the contactsoperated by the various relays are identified by numbers, such numbershaving distinguishing exponents when' the contacts are not shownadjacent the respective relaysby which they are operated. The exponentfor each of these contact members comprises the reference character andthe exponent for its relay. For example, the exponent Nllb for contact79 shown in the-circuits for lamps e, comprises the reference characterN and the exponent 11b for relay Nllb which operates contact 79 7-Having thus described, in general, the arrangement and operation of theapparatus comprising my invention, I will now trace in detail theoperation of the various parts.

As shown in the drawing, all parts of the apparatus are in their normalcondition, that is, contact G is open, contact 15-15 is closed, allrelays are deenergized, and all of the lamps e are extinguished.

I will assume that the operator desires to direct a train to track Z Hewill therefore close contact G, thus completing a pick-up circuit forrelay R passing from terminal B of rectifier M, through lay J, beingslow-releasing, does not open its front contact 1'] during theseinterruptions in the circuit for relay R. The first time relay R becomesdeenergized, a pick-up circuit is-completed for relay 5 passing fromterminal B, through the back point of contact 16 of relay R, frontcontact 17 of relay J, and the winding of relay'K to terminal C. At thesame time that the pick-up circuit for relay K is completed, a pick-upcircuit is also completed for the first counting relay D passing fromterminalB, through contact 18 of relay R, contact 19 of relay J, wire20, contact 21 of relay N back point of contact 22 of relay 1i, contact23", and the of relay D to terminal C. The right-hand terminal of relayN,"

.is connected to terminal B of rectifier M, through contact 25 of relayJ, and contact 26 of relay N. The left-hand terminal of relay N isalso-connected to terminal B of rectifier M, through the pick-up circuitjust traced for relay D as faras contact 23 and thence passingthroughcontact 280i relay D and wire-27 to relay N .On

- account of the two terminals of relay N being at the same potential,relay N does not pickup.

when relay R opens its back contact 18, however, the left-handterminalof relay N becomes disconnected from terminal B of rectifier M, andisnow connected in series with relay D in a circuit -from terminal B ofrectifier .M, through contact 25 of relay J, contact 26 of relay N3",wlndim of relay N, wire 27, contact 28 of relay D andthe. winding ofrelay D to terminal C. Relay-R yming thus energized-opens its backcontacts, and closes contact 22-at the front a point.-

When relayR becomes deenergized the second time, a pick-up circuit istherefore completed for relay I) pa'sing from terminal B, throughcontact 18 of relay R, c'ontact'li) of relay J, wire 20, contact21'of'relay N front point of contact 22 of relay 2N wire 35, contact 36of relay D and the of relay D to terminal C. The two terminals of relayN" are nowat'the same potential, as already described for relay N H-andhence relay N does not pick up.

Relay R, upon becoming energized at the completion of the secondinterruption to the circuit for relay R, opens its contact 18, therebydisconnecting the left-hand terminal of relay N from terminal B andpermitting relay N to become energized by a circuit in series with relayD and passing from terminal B, through contact 25 of relay J, contact 37of relay N winding of relay N wire 38, contact 39 of relay D and thewind--. ing of relay D to terminal C. Relay N, upon becoming energized,opens, at its contact 26, thecircuit previously traced for relays D andN causing these relays to become deenergized.

The dialing operation being now completed, the circuit for relay R willremain closed until the operator takes further action. Upon the lapse ofa brief period of time, after the last opening of contact 16 of relay Rat its back point, relay K will permit its contact 32 to close, therebycompleting a lighting circuit for lamp e passing from secondary winding30 of transformer T, through contact 32*, contact 33""", contact 34 ofrelay' oo D and lamp e to terminal 0 of secondary 30 of transformer T;The lighting of lamp e informs the trainmen that they are to place theirtrain on track Z I will now assume that the operator desires to 5 send asecond train to track Z To do this, he

can light lamp e by either dialing the diiference between numbers 2 and4, or by openingcontact G .to restore the apparatus to the normalcondition and then dialing number 4 on switch L. If no the operatormerely dials the difference between the numbers 2 and 4, he will repeatthe previous dial operation, that is, he will dial number 2, cansing thecircuit for relay R to be interrupted two more times. Upon the first ofthese interruptions to the circuit for relay R, relay. K again becomesenergized by its pick-up circuit-previously traced, thereupon openingits contact 32 and thus extinguishing lamp e When contact 18 of relay Rcloses, a pick-up circuit is completed for relay .11 passing fromterminal 13, through 'contact 18 of relay R, contact 19 of relay J, wire20, back point of contact 40 of relay N contact 41 of relay N wire 42,contact 43 of relay D and the winding of relay D to terminal C. Bothterminals of 5 relay N are now connected to the same terminal B ofrectifier M as previously described for relay N and hencerelay N doesnot pick up.

when relay R next becomesenergized, however, i the left-hand terminal ofrelay N is discon- 13o .nected, at cont'act18of relay R, from terminalB,

and relay N now becomes energized by a circuit in series with relay Dpassing from terminal B, through contact 25 of relay J, contact 44 ofrelay N contact 45 of relay N winding of relay N wire 46, contact 4'? ofrelay D and the winding ofv relay D to terminal C. Relayv N e, uponbecoming energized, opens, at its contact 37, the circuit previouslytraced for relays D and N in series and thereforecauses these two relaysto become 4 deenergized. v I

. when relay R becomes deenerg'ized the second time. a pick-up circuitis completed for relay 13*,

passing fromtermin'al B, through contact 18 of relayR, contact 19, ofrelay J, wire 20, front point of contact 40 of relay N contact 48 ofrelay N wire 49, contact'50 ofrelay and the winding of relay D toterminal C. Upon-the energization of relay D both terminals of relay N"are again 'connectedtoterminalB.

When relay R becomes energized after the second interruption to itscircuit, relay N becomes energized in series with relay D by a circuitpassing from terminal B, through contact 25 of relay J, contact 26 ofrelay N winding of relay N wire 51, contact 52 of relay D and thewinding of relay D to terminal C. Relay N upon becoming energized, opensat its contact 44 the circuit previously traced for relays D and N inseries, causing these relays to become deenergized.

The dialing operation being now completed, relays R, J, N and D willcontinue energized until the operator takes further action. Relay K,after the lapse of a brief period, permits its contact 32 to againclose. The closing of contact 32 now completes a lighting circuit forlamp e passing from the lefthand terminal of secondary 30 of transformerT, through contact 32*, contact 331 contact 34 of relay D and lamp 6 toterminal O. Lamp e by being lighted, instructs the trainmen to run theirtrain onto track Z If the operator now wishes .to extinguish lamp e andreturn the apparatus to normal, he will open switch G. This deenergizesrelay R, which closes its back contact 16 and energizes relay K. Contact32 opens and extinguishes lamp 2 Contact 19 of relay J is closed, sothat a circuit for relay D is closed, similar to that described forrelay D so that relay D picks up. Relay J is now deenergized andreleases. This deenergizes relays K, D and N 2 When relay K releases,relay D is deenergized and releases.

I will next assume that the operator has returned the apparatus to thenormal condition by opening switch G, and that he desires to now send atrain totrack Z He will therefore dial number 10 on switch L two timesin succession. Each of these dialing operations causes the circuit forrelay R to be interrupted ten times at contact 15-l5 making a total oftwenty interruptions to the circuit for relay R. The first fourinterruptions cause relays D to D inclusive, to become energized asalready traced. Subsequent relay operations, similarly accomplished bysubsequent operations of contact 15-15 are in the following order:

R becomes gized.

R becomes energized,-N becomes energized,li) and N become deenergized Rbecomes deenergized,--ID becomes energized.

R becomes energized,l l becomes energized,D and N become deenergized.

R becomes deenergized,-l3 becomes energized.

R becomes energized-N becomes energized,1D and N become deenergized.

R becomes deenergized,-D becomes energized.

R becomes energized,N becomes energized,-D and N become deenergized.

R becomes deenergized,l3 becomes energized.

R becomes energized,-N becomes 1 energized,-D and N become deenergized.

deenergizecl,lfi becomes ener-- When relay R becomes deenergized thetenth When relay R next becomes energized, relay- N becomes energized bya circuit through'relays N and D in series, passing from terminal B,through contact 25 of relay J, contact 44 of relay N winding of relay Nwire 77, contact 78 of relay D, and the winding ,of relay D to terminalC. Relay N upon becoming energized, completes a pick-up circuit forrelay N passing from terminal B, through contact 25 of relay J, frontpoint of contact 81 of relay N contact 82 of relay D and the winding ofrelay N to terminal C. The energization of relay N also opens, at itscontact 45, the circuit for relays D and N which then becomedeenergized.

' Upon the second release of the dial switch relay R becomes deenergizedfor the eleventh time, and relay D again becomes energized by a circuitwhich is the same as the pick-up circuit first traced for this relay,except passing through contact 24 instead of through contact 23 Thereason for using contact 24 is that when relay R closes its back contact18 the eleventh time, relay N has not had sufiicient' time to close itsback contact 23 following the interruption of the circuit for relay N bythe opening series with relay D as previously traced. Relay I N uponbecoming energized, opens, at its contact 44, the circuit previouslytraced for relays N and D causing these relays to become deenergized.Relay N however, continues energized by a stick circuit passing fromterminal B, through contact 25 of relay J, contact 83 of relay D inmultiple with the back point of contact 81 of relay N contact 84 ofrelay N and the winding of relay N to terminal C.

Relays D to D inclusive, now become successively energized as previouslydescribed.

Upon the twentieth deenergization of relay R, relay I) becomes energizedby a pick-up circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 18 ofrelay R, contact 19 of relay J, wire 20, front point of contact 40 ofrelay N, contact 48 of relay N wire 61, contact '73 of relay N con tact'74 of relay D front point of contact 75 of relay N contact 85 of relayD and the Wind'- ing' of relay D to terminal C.

When relay R becomes energized following the twentieth interruption toits circuit, relay N becomes energized by a circuit passing fromterminal B, through contact 2.5 of relay J, contact 44 of relay Nwinding of relay N contact 86 of relay D and the winding of relay D toterminal C. With both relays N and 11 energized, the stick circuit forrelay N is opened at the back point of contact 81 of relay N and atcontact 83 of relay D Relay N is therefore deenergized.

Relays R, J, N118L and D now continue energized until the operator takesfurther action. After the lapse of a brief period, relay K releases itscontact 32 thereby completing the lighting circuit for lamp e passingfrom secondary 30 of transformer T, through contact 32*, contact 33 mcontact 34 and lamp e to terminal 0. By the lighting of lamp e thetrainmen are instructed to place their train on track Z It will be notedthat all of the relays are now in the. same condition as when switch Gwas closed in preparation for the first dialing operation, exceptthatrelays D and'N are energized, and that these relays will becomedeenergized by the opening of contact 44 of relay N upon the'receipt ofthe first of a series of additional impulses. It follows that theoperator may now light any of the lamps by transmitting addipulse tionalimpulses, without opening switch G to restore the apparatus to normal.In other words,

the transmission of a 21st impulse has exactly the same effect as thetransmission of a fijrst im- It will be noted that, if the operatorshould dial any number from 10 to 19, inclusive, the circuit for thedesired lamp having-a number from c" to e", respectively, will passthrough front contact 79". The circuits for any lamp from 2 to e,inclusive, and for lampe, on the other hand, pass through back contact33 The counting relays D, moreover, may thus be operated throughrepeated cycles by repeated dialing, and during each alternate cycle acontact 34 of each of the relays in turn will be closed to completeselected circuits over contact .c to e inclusive, he will dial thecorresponding number once on dial switch L. The circuit for relay R willthen be opened a number of times corresponding to the number dialed. If,for example, the operator ,dials number 5, the circuit for relay R willbe opened at contact 15-15 five times. Upon the completion of thedialing operation, a corresponding counting relay D, a. correspondingtransfer relay N, and relays R. and J will remain energized. Relay K,however, will open after a brief period following the final opening ofthe back point of contact 16 of relay R. Relay K will therefore permitits back contact 32 to close and cause the desired lamp e to becomelighted and remain lighted until the operator takes further action.

light a lamp having a higher number than 10,- the operator will operatedial switch L two times in succession so that the sum of the numbersdialed willbe the number for the desired lamp. If, for example, theoperator wishes to light, lamp e", he will first dial number 10 and willthen immediately dial number 2. If he wishes to light lamp hewill dialnumber 10 two times. e

The slow-releasing feature of relay 'K prevents the lightingof any ofthe lamps e until the dialing operation is completed and wheel a hascome to rest with movable contact member 15 engaging fixed contactmember 15. In this way, none of the intermediate lamps e will belighted. butonly the desired .lamp will become-lighted by a givendialing operation.

. a To extinguish a lamp and'return the control apparatus to the normalcondition for dialing a new number, the operator will open contact G.

- The arrangement is such, however, that the operator after lighting agiven lamp, can light a lamp having a higher number by dialing thedifferit m a 1 ,between ence between the numbers lot. the two lamps.

Theoperator if he desires, light a lamp,

lower numberby dialing the difference the number for the lamp which isalready lighted and number 20 pius the number for the desired lamp.

Transier relaysN,.N'9 andN 'areusedfirst with counting relays D, D and Drespectively,

then with counting relays D, D and D respectively, then with countingrelays D",.D and D respectively, next with counting relays D D and Dagain, then with counting relays D, D and'D', and thenwith countingrelays D", D and D. Transfer relay N is used only with counting relays,1) and D"; Lamps e to e, inclusive, ande are controlled through a backcontact of relay N and lamps e to e inclusive, are controlled through afront, contact of relay N In apparatus embodying my invention, contact Ginthe control circuit for relay R is normally open, and hence all relaysand'lamps are normally deenergized. Dial switch L produces open andclosed periods of the control circuit for relay R approximately equal inlength to each other. Selection between the various lamps is effected bythe number of open periods of the circuit for relay R determined by thedial switch L.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railwaysignaling embodying my invention, it is understood that various changesand modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from-the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described, my invention, what I claim is: Y

1 In combination, a plurality of indicators, a normally open manuallyoperable key, an impulse transmitter comprising a contact, means wherebysaid contact is caused to open and close repeat- I edly, when thetransmitter is actuated, to trans-,

mit a group of impulses less in number than the number of indicators, aseriesof -counting relays, means rendered effective by the closing ofsaid manually operable key for operating saidcounting relays one atrepeated-cycles when said impulse transmitter is actuated repeatedly, astick relay, means controlled by said counting relays for energizingsaidstick relay at the end of each alternate cycle and for deenergizing itat the end of each intervening cycle of operation of said countingrelays, means for selectively energizing said indicators comprising acircuit for each indicator including a front contact of a particularcounting relay of said series, certain of said circuits including a backcontact and the remainder a front contact of said stick relay, wherebysaid indicators may be repeatedly energized one at a time in sequenceeach in accordance with thetotal number of impulses transmitted aftersaid manually operable key is closed, and means selectively responsiveto the opening of said manually operable key to release all of therelays energized at a given time.

a time in sequence through- 2. In combination, a plurality ofindicators, as

normally open manually operable key, an impulse transmitter comprising acontact, means whereby said contact is causedto open and closerepeatedly, when the transmitter is actuated, to

transmit a group of impulses less in number thanthe number ofindicators, a series of relays, including counting relays operable oneat a time 'in sequence through repeated cycles and a pair of auxiliaryrelays, one auxiliary relay being operated at the end of each altemate/cycle and the other at the end of each intervening cycle of operation ofsaid counting relays, means rendered ei'lective-by the closing of saidmanually operable key for operating said relays one at a time in rsequence through repeated cycles when said impulse transmitter isactuated repeate y, com-- prising pick up circuits for the firstcounting relay closed when all 01 the relays are deenergized or when oneor the other of the auxiliary relays is energized, and a pick up circuitfor each remaining relay closed when the next preceding relay of theseries is energized, means for releasing each relay when the nextsucceeding relay of the series is energized, a stick relay controlled bysaid auxiliary relays and arranged to be energized during each alternatecycle but to be deenergized during each intervening cycle of operationof said counting relays, means for selectively energizing saidindicators comprising two series of circuits each including contactsclosed one at a time in sequence as said relays are operated through acycle, one of said series of circuits including a front contact and theother a back contact of said stick relay, whereby said indicators may berepeatedly energized, one at a time in sequence, each in accordance withthe total number of impulses transmitted after said manually operablekey is closed, and means selectively responsive to the opening of saidmanually operable key to release all of said relays energized at a giventime.

LLOYD V. LEWIS.

